Biography

Juan Manuel Marquez is a former World Featherweight Champion. Marquez was the WBO #1 contender for two years while Naseem Hamed was the WBO featherweight champion. To Hamed's credit, he did offer Marquez a fight in the summer of 2000, but Marquez declined. Marquez did end up getting a title shot against Freddie Norwood. Marquez was knocked down in the fight, but himself scored a knockdown on Norwood. Most experts felt that Marquez won a close decision, but was robbed. It took Juan Manuel Marquez another four years, to get a second title shot, which came against Manuel Medina, with him stopping the game veteran in the later rounds. Marquez made a few minor defenses plus unifying the WBA and IBF titles, before receiving an offer to fight Manny Pacquiao in May of 2004. In a thrilling Fight Of The Year candidate, Marquez was knocked down three times in the first round, but gamely fought back to win many of the remaining rounds. Fans hotly debate, who deserved the win, but the official result was a draw. Marquez refused a rematch with Pacquiao, demanding too much money, and his career has seemingly stalled since.

Marquez was stripped of his IBF title as his scheduled defense aginst Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym failed to draw a bid, after it was sent to purse bid by the IBF. At the time, Marquez was in the admist of leaving Top Rank, in dispute of the quality of bouts he was receiving. Marquez also was offered 1.4 million dollars to fight Erik Morales by Bob Arum, however, he asked for more money and the fight never went forward. In March 2006, Marquez traveled to Indonesia to face WBA featherweight champion Chris John, for just $31,500, and lost a unanimous decision.